Tigers run out to early lead, take down South Decatur

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CROTHERSVILLE

The Crothersville girls basketball team used a solid, consistent defense to defeat South Decatur 67-50 on Thursday evening.

The Tigers got out to a commanding start as they went to 15-0 run to begin the game. The team used six first-quarter steals on a press defense to help take command.

Decatur could not establish an offense as they did not score until freshman Madison Owens scored a free throw with 4:25 remaining in the first quarter.

Tigers junior Katrina Christian scored seven of her 23 points in the first quarter and freshman Piper Hensley scored eight of her 11 points in the opening eight minutes.

After one quarter, the Tigers led 23-5.

South Decatur had plans to chip away at deficit, as they started the quarter on a 7-1 run and got the ball back quickly on two traveling violations called on the Tigers.

However, Christian stole the ball and passed it to sophomore Lacey Hall for a 3-pointer to spark a 9-0 Tigers run to bring the score to 31-14 with 4:19 remaining in the first half.

The Tigers kept up the strong defense and went into the locker room with a 37-21 lead.

The third quarter opened with a 6-2 run by the Tigers, forcing South Decatur to take a timeout.

The Cougars then slowed down the pace of the game and competed better, but were still outscored by the Tigers 15-11 to end the third.

South Decatur outscored the Tigers in the fourth quarter for the only time in the game as they posted 18 points to the Tigers’ 14 points.

Tigers coach Kevin Hensley said after the game that he was pleased with the team’s effort on defense.

“That’s the one thing I’ve been stressing to them, is to keep the pressure on teams now,” he said. “We have the talent now to pressure teams and we have to keep that going.”

The Tigers played full-court pressure defense the entire game, and Hensley said that takes a lot of focus and energy but that his girls could handle it.

He added that it will be his approach in the coming games.

“We’re going to build off that style of defense because I want to keep that constant pressure on teams,” he said.

Hensley said he counts on players like Christian and Maddie Riley to help execute that type of defense.

“Katrina is so good on the point of the defense in carrying it, and she does a really good job. Maddie Riley does an excellent job because of her length,” he said.

It was a great team win tonight. They never let up.”

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